When Should a Ski Resort Make Snow?

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1219-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin R. Caskey
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Actual Practice ◽  
Analytical Modelling ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Strategic Issues ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts

Snow-making is an expensive operation for a ski resort. However, many resorts would be unable to operate without man-made snow. Deciding when to make snow involves several uncertain factors, as well as significant strategic issues. First, the author describes the framework for this decision. Next, he proposes analytical modelling. Finally, he compares the proposed models to actual practice at several resorts and proposes further research. The author finds that actual practice at most ski resorts does not involve formal analytical methods. While the resorts consider many of the factors included in the models, the decision is generally not modelled explicitly. The use of the proposed analytical models could lead to a better understanding of the factors involved in the snow-making decision, and thus to better service at a reduced cost.

Assessing the competitiveness of the resort area

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 1216-1231
Author(s):  
K.A. Nefedova ◽  
D.O. Maslakova
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Ranking Score ◽  
Comprehensive Development ◽  
Differential Methods

Subject. This article discusses the issues of development of the Krasnaya Polyana resort area. Objectives. The article aims to assess the competitive ability and attractiveness of this resort area through developing indicators. Methods. For the study, we used a comparative analysis, and factor and ranking score techniques. Results. The article offers original methods to assess the competitiveness of the ski resort area and describes possible directions to increase and improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of ski resorts. Conclusions. Comprehensive development indicators help assess the competitive ability of the ski resort area. Modified expert, sociological, rating, and differential methods contribute to the effective management of the resort area's advantages.

scholarly journals Progress in Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation Methods for Textile Permeability

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Karaki ◽  
Rafic Younes ◽  
Francois Trochu ◽  
Pascal Lafon
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Theoretical Evaluation ◽  
Unidirectional Fiber ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Performance Preparation ◽  
Personal Performance ◽  
Methods Numerical

A great amount of attention has been given to the evaluation of the permeability tensor and several methods have been implemented for this purpose: experimental methods, as well as numerical and analytical methods. Numerical simulation tools are being seriously developed to cover the evaluation of permeability. However, the results are still far from matching reality. On the other hand, many problems still intervene in the experimental measurement of permeability, since it depends on several parameters including personal performance, preparation of specimens, equipment accuracy, and measurement techniques. Errors encountered in these parameters may explain why inconsistent measurements are obtained which result in unreliable experimental evaluation of permeability. However, good progress was done in the second international Benchmark, wherein a method to measure the in-plane permeability was agreed on by 12 institutes and universities. Critical researchers’ work was done in the field of analytical methods, and thus different empirical and analytical models have emerged, but most of those models need to be improved. Some of which are based on Cozeny-Karman equation. Others depend on numerical simulation or experiment to predict the macroscopic permeability. Also, the modeling of permeability of unidirectional fiber beds have taken the greater load of concern, whereas that of fiber bundle permeability prediction remain limited. This paper presents a review on available methods for evaluating unidirectional fiber bundles and engineering fabric permeability. The progress of each method is shown in order to clear things up.

Effect of Solar Brightness Profiles on the Performance of Parabolic Concentrating Collectors

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Chapman ◽  
Diego A. Arias
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Uncertainty Propagation ◽  
Gaussian Function ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Solar Concentrator ◽  
Optical Performance ◽  
Optical Surface ◽  
Solar Brightness

Solar brightness profiles were used to model the optical performance of a parabolic linear solar concentrator. A sensitivity analysis of the sun size on collector performance was completed using analytical methods. Ray traces were created for solar brightness profiles having circumsolar ratios from 0–40%, slope errors of the optical surface from 2–5 mrads, and angles of incidence varying from 0–60 degrees. Using typical meteorological data for two locations, the optical performance was calculated and averaged over a year. Intercept factors of these simulations were compared to simpler analytical models that cast the sun shape as a Gaussian function. Results showed that collector performance is relatively insensitive to solar profile, and that using a representative Gaussian solar profile will tend to underestimate collector performance compared to using exact weighted solar profiles by about 1%. This difference is within the uncertainty propagation of the intercept factor calculated with analytical methods.

scholarly journals Revegetation of ski runs in Serbia: Case studies of Mts. Stara Planina and Divcibare

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1127-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Bjedov ◽  
R. Ristic ◽  
N. Stavretovic ◽  
V. Stevovic ◽  
B. Radic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Soil Stabilization ◽  
Erosion Control ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Seed Mixtures

Revegetation is the most sustainable method of soil stabilization at ski runs. In order to establish a stable plant community, it is recommended to use native species. However, non-native species are most often used. In this paper the revegetation of ski runs at two ski resorts is investigated: Divcibare and Stara Planina. Seven species were used for the revegetation of the ski run at the Divcibare ski resort of which six species were native. Six species were used for the revegetation of the Stara Planina ski resort, of which two species were native. It was established that the plant species used in the seed mixtures were suitable for erosion control at the investigated ski resorts.

scholarly journals A review of methods for addressing components of interventions in meta-analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246631
Author(s):  
Maria Petropoulou ◽  
Orestis Efthimiou ◽  
Gerta Rücker ◽  
Guido Schwarzer ◽  
Toshi A. Furukawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Software Tools ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Healthcare Interventions ◽  
Multicomponent Interventions ◽  
Interacting Components

Many healthcare interventions are complex, consisting of multiple, possibly interacting, components. Several methodological articles addressing complex interventions in the meta-analytical context have been published. We hereby provide an overview of methods used to evaluate the effects of complex interventions with meta-analytical models. We summarized the methodology, highlighted new developments, and described the benefits, drawbacks, and potential challenges of each identified method. We expect meta-analytical methods focusing on components of several multicomponent interventions to become increasingly popular due to recently developed, easy-to-use, software tools that can be used to conduct the relevant analyses. The different meta-analytical methods are illustrated through two examples comparing psychotherapies for panic disorder.

scholarly journals Skin Cancer Prevalence in Outdoor Workers of Ski Resorts

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yolanda Gilaberte ◽  
Josep Manel Casanova ◽  
Ana Julia García-Malinis ◽  
Salvador Arias-Santiago ◽  
Maria Reyes García de la Fuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Solar Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Outdoor Workers ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Skin Cancers

Background. Snow reflectivity and altitude increase the exposure of ski resort workers to solar ultraviolet radiation. The aim was to assess the presence of skin cancer in ski resorts workers and compare it with other groups of outdoor workers reviewing published studies. Methods. An observational cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in the three largest ski resorts in Spain: Baqueira Beret, Lleida; Formigal, Huesca and Sierra Nevada, Granada. All outdoor workers including ski instructors were invited to participate in the study. The participants completed a validated questionnaire about sun exposure and underwent a skin examination. Results. 219 workers were included in the study (80% male; mean age 43.8 (SD 11.31) years). Actinic keratosis (AK) but no other skin cancers were detected in 32 participants (14.62%). Those with AK worked in the Southernmost ski resort, were more likely to have light colour hair, and were older and with higher photoaging grade than those without them. Conclusion. Compared to other studies, outdoor workers on ski resorts show a higher prevalence of AK than general population but a lower prevalence than other groups of outdoor workers.

Artificial Snowmaking: Winter Sports Between State-Owned Company Policy and Tourist Demand

2020 ◽  
pp. 109634802095707
Author(s):  
Marko Joksimović ◽  
Mirjana Gajić ◽  
Snežana Vujadinović ◽  
Jelena Milenković ◽  
Vladimir Malinić
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Winter Sports ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Company Policy ◽  
Owned Company ◽  
Natural Snow ◽  
Tourist Demand

Due to changing climatic conditions, artificial snowmaking has become a major method of ski resort adaptation globally. It is a financially intensive operation requiring high start-up investment and involving operating costs that are dependent on weather conditions. Operational costs and the expansion of artificial snowmaking systems increase the price of ski passes. In our work, we analyzed the operations of a public company that operates the largest ski resorts in Serbia and directs the flow of winter sports tourism. We tried to determine, by means of correlation, the extent to which ski pass prices in the biggest winter resort in Serbia are influenced by factors such as natural snow cover, number of tourist overnights, ski run length, and local wages. The results of the survey indicate an increasing transformation of the ski resort into a thematic attraction independent of climatic factors in terms of determining ski pass prices.

scholarly journals Insights and experiences from assessing the added value of PROSNOW, a prediction system to support snow management in Alpine ski resorts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Köberl ◽  
Hugues François ◽  
Carlo Carmagnola ◽  
Pirmin Ebner ◽  
Daniel Günther ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Significant Saving ◽  
The Real ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Ex Ante

<p>Within the H2020 project PROSNOW (www.prosnow.org), a demonstrator of a forecasting system that aims at increasing the anticipatory power of ski resorts in the field of snow management has been developed and tested. The PROSNOW® demonstrator, which includes a web-based user interface, represents a meteorological prediction and snow management system with the aim to provide improved anticipation capabilities at various time-scales, spanning from a few days to the seasonal scale of several months. The system holds significant potential to increase the resilience of socio-economic stakeholders and support their real-time adaptation. However, it is expected to take some time until users will gain confidence with the service, completely realize its power and its limitations, and learn to use it in the most effective way to exploit its potential. Although the final actual added value of the PROSNOW® prediction and snowmaking system can thus only be assessed several years after its initial implementation, some ex-ante and preliminary ex-post valuations have already been carried out following the real-time testing of the demonstrator in nine Alpine pilot ski resorts in the winter season 2019/20.</p><p>We applied two different approaches to assess the added value of PROSNOW®: (i) a simulation-based approach and (ii) a survey-based approach. The simulation-based approach consisted of the ex-ante valuation of PROSNOW®’s cost saving potential in the field of snowmaking, using meteorological hindcast data and simulations from snowpack models. The approach is based on decision theory and aims at estimating the cost savings achievable by using the PROSNOW® system to support a ski resort’s daily and strategic snowmaking decisions, compared to the information sources and strategies used so far. In the survey-based approach, which included both ex-ante and ex-post elements, pilot ski resorts were asked to (e)valuate the PROSNOW® demonstrator, based on their experiences from the real-time testing in the winter season 2019/20. The survey included questions about the perceived forecasting accuracy, observed positive impacts, the experienced as well as expected usefulness of the PROSNOW® demonstrator for different areas of application within the ski resort, and the ski resort’s willingness to pay (WTP). For the latter, both direct and indirect stated preference methods (e.g. limit conjoint analysis) were applied.</p><p>Both, simulations and survey results revealed that increases in the ability to anticipate weather and snow conditions bear significant saving potentials for some ski resorts. Areas of application for which PROSNOW® is considered particularly useful include snowmaking decisions for the upcoming hours and days, the optimization of water and energy use and avoidance of snow overproduction. Even though some pilot ski resorts experienced problems with the demonstrator, the majority indicated to be willing to pay a non-zero price for the service, ranging from 2,500€ to 12,700€ per season.</p>

scholarly journals Past changes in natural and managed snow reliability of French Alps ski resorts from 1961 to 2018

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Berard-Chenu ◽  
Hugues François ◽  
Emmanuelle George ◽  
Samuel Morin
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Climatic Impact ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
French Alps ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Lower Elevation

Abstract. Snow reliability is a key climatic impact driver for the ski tourism industry, for which there is more literature regarding future projections than past observed impacts. This study provides an assessment of past changes in natural and managed snow cover reliability from 1961 to 2018 in the French Alps. In particular, we used snowmaking investment figures to infer the evolution of snowmaking coverage at the ski resort scale for 16 ski resorts in the French Alps. We find different benefits of snow management to reduce the variability and long term decrease in snow cover reliability because of the heterogeneity of the snowmaking deployment trajectories across ski resorts. The frequency of challenging conditions for ski resort operation over the 1991–2018 period increased in November and February to April compared to the reference period 1961–1990. In general, snowmaking had a positive impact on snow reliability, especially in December to January. While for the highest elevation ski resorts, snowmaking improved snow reliability for the core of the winter season, it did not counterbalance the decreasing trend in snow cover reliability for lower elevation ski resorts and in the spring.

scholarly journals Assessing the Accuracy of Performance Modelling in Software Defined Networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jordan Ansell
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Measurement ◽  
Network Models ◽  
Analytical Modelling ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Queueing Models ◽  
Software Defined Network ◽  
Software Defined Networks ◽  
Performance Modelling ◽  
Experimental Performance ◽  
Performance Results

<p>Analytical modelling and experimental measurement can are used to evaluate the performance of a network. Models provide insight and measurement provides realism.  For software defined networks (SDN) it is unknown how well the existing queueing models represent the performance of a real SDN network. This leads to uncertainty between what can be predicted and the actual behaviour of a software defined network.  This work investigates the accuracy of software defined network queueing models. This is done through comparing the performance results of analytical models to experimental performance results.  The outcome of this is an understanding of how reliable the existing queueing models are and areas where the queueing models can be improved.</p>

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